Page 18 - AHATA

LOCAL Monday 20 January 2020
A17

Hotel

Hustle

Column by: Shanella Pantophlet
Updating traditions

ORANJESTAD — If there is
one thing I can think of a
constant throughout my
life has always been fire-
works on December 31st.
Two days after Christmas
the firework shops open
and sell as much as they
can until the 31st. While
individuals spend a good
chunk of money on their
personal fireworks, the
kings have got to be
companies in order to
close out their year. At
12pm on the last work
day of the year every
company sets off their
“pagara” to signify the
end of the old year and
welcome in a new one.

Over the last few years however this and many It’s a good effort, but still has a lot of room to the road. These are all small steps in the right
other practices have been looked at from the grow. In the same way the government is en- direction.
perspective of their potential hazard to the couraging citizens to do their part to protect One thing I never thought I’d see come to an
environment. Climate change is something our local flora and fauna, so are hotels. Our end however, was the end of the year “paga-
that a lot of vacation destinations, including businesses contribute quite a bit to the overall ra”, but this last year nine hotels that usually do
Aruba, are actively fighting against. In order carbon footprint, but we are trying to do our this all decided not to participate in the tradi-
to protect our wildlife, beaches and coral the part. tion this year. It caused a stir among employ-
government of Aruba has put in place bans Most hotels have green initiatives or goals to ees, especially those of a more superstitious
on all single use foam and plastics along with reduce their negative impact. We make re- nature, but once explained the reasons why
banning certain types of sunblock. A measure usable shopping bags available, place more this practice was being stopped, just like the
that was met with full support island wide and water coolers with bottle fillers to encourage plastic bag ban it gained quick acceptance.
made reusable shopping bags the ultimate using a bottle instead of a cup. Others have The best thing to come out of all this is that the
gift to get once the rules went into effect. solar panels or electric company cars. We use money saved on the fireworks was donated
The government is trying if a little misguided, I local plants, which require less watering, in our to various nonprofits, who are focused on pro-
mean we may have stopped using single use landscaping. tecting Aruba’s coral reefs and conserving our
plastic straws, cups and plates, but go into ev- During off property company events carpool- local wildlife. In the meantime we have an en-
ery supermarket and take note of how many ing is encouraged or a bus is hired to transport tire year to discover and plan for more envi-
products you take home that are still in plastic. employees to reduce the amount of cars on ronmentally friendly celebrations.q

Aruban born and bred Shanella Pantophlet is passionate about tour-
ism. That is the world she studied and works in, so we might as well call
her a specialist. Luckily for Aruba Today Shanella also loves to write.
And together with the fact that the majority of our readers are tourists,
we found ourselves a perfect combination for a column: Hotel Hustle.